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How to choose a compost product

The look, feel and smell are the best first indicators. Good compost:

• Has a medium – to dark-brown color and a crumbly texture.
• It is not too wet or dry and may feel warm, but it should not be hot.
• A mild, sweet, earthy odor indicates good maturity.
• Avoid compost with a strong rotten-egg or ammonia smell.

Ask questions.

• What is the compost made from?
• Does it carry the U.S. Composting Council Seal of Testing Assurance?
• Is it tested for herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, salts and weed seeds?

What about possible contaminants?

• It is uncommon for commercial compost to have significant herbicide or pesticide residues, weed seeds or plant diseases because of the way it is processed in large facilities.
• Heavy metals are uncommon, except sometimes in compost made from biosolids (sewage waste).
• Salts are a little more common – particularly in compost made from manures or food wastes – but are generally less of a problem, especially when the compost is applied when rains can wash salts from the soil.